For more than thirty years, Tim Burton has been crafting artfully spooky, unusual, and wonderfully cinematic tales. The beautifully unique visions of the filmmaker, who began his career as an animator, producing shorts for Disney and famously going to the National Film and Television School in England, have filled audiences everywhere with a great childhood nostalgia. His movies have always been characterized by their dark settings, inventive visuals, and comedic moments.
From Edward Scissorhands to Big Fish and even his live-action Dumbo, the director has carved out a niche for himself in the landscape of 21st century filmmaking. More recently, he’s adapted Roald Dahl’s classic novel The Witches and even made a stop-motion reversion of his cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. Burton’s idea of remaking and arranging classic material, while remaining faithful to the source material and reshaping it in exciting new, unexpected ways, has been immensely successful. He has the unique ability to bring a new perspective to the genre of dark, storybook fantasy.
With this in mind, it begs the question of what other shows would be a worthy vehicle for Burton’s reimagining. What other titles are ripe to be Burtonied, if you will? Here are a few options of shows Tim Burton should remake next.
The Addams Family
When it comes to Tim Burton, dark and whimsical is his signature style. And there’s no better example of the perfect fusion of the two than the beloved classic TV show The Addams Family. This show is essentially a live-action cartoon, filled with misfits and black humor, and it meshes perfectly with Burton’s style. He could also create something entirely new with the characters and offer plenty of opportunities for his own brand of visual storytelling. A Tim Burton take on The Addams Family is a no-brainer.
Pee-Wee’s Playhouse
Another childhood classic, Pee-wee’s Playhouse could offer up a unique blend of the weird and wonderful. It could be set up as a fun, lighthearted adventure set against Burton’s dark backdrops and visuals. Who knows, maybe they can even bring Pee-wee to the big screen and finally share the character with a wider audience.
The Chronicles of Narnia
This beloved series of fantasy stories by C.S. Lewis has been adapted for film before, but with Tim Burton’s unique style of dark storytelling, it could offer a new perspective on the beloved story. Burton could bring a wonderfully new life to the characters and mythology of Narnia. There’s no doubt that his off-beat mind would be perfect for creating the unforgettable land of magical creatures and talking animals.
Young Sherlock Holmes
The teen version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective is the perfect material for a Burton adaptation. Holmes’ investigations can take him to strange and fantastical places, where Burton can unleash his creative vision. Not to mention, it would be great to see the combination of a teen Sherlock Holmes with Burton’s customary macabre visual landscape.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
This early 80s Japanese-French cartoon-drama has become something of a cult classic since its initial release. It tells the story of the search by Esteban, a young Spanish orphan, for his father and the secrets of a lost Inca civilization. As Burton is an expert at turning fantasy tales into visually arresting spectacles, this series would be perfect for his filmmaking prowess.
Ren & Stimpy
This cult Nickelodeon cartoon is filled with dark and twisted humor and offers plenty of wacky adventures. With Burton behind the frame, this series could also reveal a new and darker perspective to the world of Ren and Stimpy. Its offbeat humor and strange setting could prove to be an ideal fit for the talented director.
Tim Burton’s penchant for the dark and uncanny have kept audiences of all ages enthralled for years and have kept his work at the forefront of modern entertainment. Remaking classic stories and giving them new life with his signature style is something that has always been a highlight of his work. While his most recent remakes and adaptations of classic material have been immensely successful, there are still plenty of potential titles waiting to be Burtonied. Whether it be The Addams Family, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, The Chronicles of Narnia, Young Sherlock Holmes, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, or Ren & Stimpy, Tim Burton has a plethora of options when it comes to remaking a classic. Let’s wait and see what Burton’s got up his sleeve next.